Sturgeon Fishing in Canada

Several types of sturgeon are listed under the federal Species at Risk Act
(SARA) as species of Special Concern. These species are also protected by the federal Fisheries Act which prohibits destruction of fish habitat. It is also illegal to keep any sturgeon caught while sport fishing in Canada.

If you latch on to a big one you'll know it when sturgeon fishing in Canada. These behemoths can reach weights up to several hundred pounds. It is wise to follow a catch and release policy when Canadian sturgeon fishing as their numbers are not as high as they once were. It will; however, be the catch of a lifetime.

Biology and Habitat of Sturgeon

The sturgeon is one of the oldest fish species in Canada dating back 200 million years. It inhabits the sub arctic rivers, lakes, and coastlines of Canada. This is where you'll find the best sturgeon fishing in Canada. When you talk about large freshwater fish, the sturgeon wins the prize as a "monster" fish. Adult sturgeons range in size from 2 m (7 ft) to 5.5 m (18 ft) long and can tip the scales at several hundred pounds.

The sturgeon has no teeth, which is good thing for a fish this size. It is a bottom feeder that stirs up the river or lake bed to uncover crustaceans and small shells. As they grow larger they will eat small fish before graduating to swallowing salmon whole or even dining on baby seals.

They spawn upstream in much the same way salmon do. Sturgeon hang out in freshwater deltas and estuaries where they can eat a variety of foods. They are a true bottom feeder, eating dead fish and mammals as a matter of course. Sturgeon will venture out into the ocean but rarely. I guess they enjoy being a large fish in a small pond.

Some species of sturgeon are harvested for their roe to be made into caviar. This makes them one of the most valuable fish in the water. Sturgeon numbers are dwindling with many species being declared vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. A catch and release policy is recommended when Canadian sturgeon fishing.

In addition the coast, sturgeon can also be found in the Great Lakes. These lake sturgeon are somewhat smaller with a length of about 2 m (6 ft) and weighing in at 100 kg (220 lbs). Their lifespan can reach up to 100 years and they are 30 years old before reaching sexual maturity. Lake sturgeon feed on worms, leeches, insect larvae, and other fish that it can swallow whole.